KSNT

KSNT is a full-power television station serving Topeka, Kansas, and surrounding communities. Broadcasting on virtual channel 27, it is affiliated with NBC and is one of the principal local television news outlets in the Topeka market. The station operates from studios on Northwest 25th Street near Kiro, with its transmitter located at the same general site. KSNT is owned by Nexstar Media Group and operates alongside low-power Class A Fox affiliate KTMJ-CD. Through shared-services and joint-sales arrangements, the station also supports programming, advertising, and news operations for KTKA-TV, the market’s ABC affiliate and de facto CW Plus outlet. The station began broadcasting on December 28, 1967, under the call sign KTSB. It was the second commercial television station to launch in the Topeka market and the first full-power UHF station in Kansas. From its debut, it carried NBC programming. During its early years, it occasionally cleared selected ABC programs, while ABC programming was shared locally with WIBW-TV until the 1983 launch of a full-time ABC affiliate on channel 49. Ownership changed several times as KSNT developed from an independent local station into part of larger television groups. George Hatch acquired the station in 1982 through the Kansas State Network, and the call letters changed to KSNT that year to associate the station with the network’s other Kansas outlets. For a period, KSNT operated as a partial semi-satellite of KSNW in Wichita, although it retained a substantial local news operation focused on northeast Kansas. SJL Communications acquired the station in 1988, followed by Lee Enterprises in 1995, Emmis Communications in 2000, Montecito Broadcast Group in 2005, New Vision Television in 2007, LIN Media in 2012, Media General in 2014, and Nexstar in 2017. KSNT’s current operating structure took shape during the New Vision period. In 2008, New Vision acquired Fox affiliate KTMJ-CA and moved its operations into KSNT’s facility. In 2011, New Vision began providing services for KTKA-TV after that station was sold to PBC Broadcasting. The arrangement later continued under Vaughan Media and LIN Media, creating a shared operational structure involving the market’s NBC, ABC, and Fox outlets. Nexstar’s acquisition of Media General in 2017 placed KSNT within one of the largest local-television groups in the United States. The station’s news operation produces locally focused broadcasts for KSNT and contributes or provides newscasts for KTMJ-CD and KTKA-TV. Its programming has included morning, evening, late-night, weekend, and prime-time broadcasts, with coverage of local government, weather, public safety, education, sports, and regional events. In 2022, the station revived the “27 News” identity for its KSNT and KTKA newscasts. KSNT also carries the full NBC network schedule, with some scheduling adjustments reflecting the Central Time Zone and local programming priorities.

KSNT began broadcasting on December 28, 1967, as KTSB. The station was founded as the second commercial television outlet in the Topeka market and the first full-power UHF station in Kansas. It launched as an NBC affiliate and remained associated with NBC throughout its history. In its first years, KTSB occasionally carried selected ABC programs, but local ABC rights were later consolidated when channel 49 launched as a full-time ABC affiliate in 1983. George Hatch acquired the station in 1982 through the Kansas State Network, a group centered on Wichita NBC affiliate KSNW. On August 16 of that year, the station adopted the KSNT call letters, aligning it with the KSN family. KSNT used KSN branding for several years and maintained limited program and news relationships with KSNW and its western Kansas satellites. Despite those connections, KSNT retained a separate news department serving northeast Kansas and supplied regional material to the broader network. SJL Communications acquired KSNT and KSNW in 1988. In 1995, Lee Enterprises purchased the Kansas State Network group. Lee subsequently decided to exit television, and on May 9, 2000, it sold KSNT, KSNW and related stations to Emmis Communications in a larger television transaction. Emmis later pursued a radio-focused strategy and sold its television assets. Montecito Broadcast Group acquired KSNT and related stations in a transaction announced in 2005 and completed in January 2006. Montecito sold the station group to New Vision Television in 2007. New Vision expanded KSNT’s local operating footprint in 2008 by acquiring Fox affiliate KTMJ-CA and moving that station’s operations into KSNT’s Northwest 25th Street facility. In 2011, New Vision began operating KTKA-TV under a local marketing and shared-services arrangement after PBC Broadcasting acquired the ABC station. KSNT consequently produced KTKA’s local newscasts, while the three stations shared aspects of facilities, staff, advertising, and technical operations. The structure attracted objections from the American Cable Association over potential retransmission-consent leverage, but the FCC approved the transaction. LIN TV Corporation acquired New Vision’s stations in 2012, including KSNT and KTMJ, and obtained the operating agreement associated with KTKA. Media General then acquired LIN Media in a transaction completed in December 2014. Regulatory approval imposed conditions concerning the joint-sales arrangement involving the separately owned KTKA station. Nexstar Broadcasting Group announced its proposed acquisition of Media General in 2015; the transaction received FCC approval in January 2017 and closed that month. KSNT thereby became part of Nexstar Media Group, which remains its owner. KSNT has also used its digital spectrum to support related services. In 2006, its second digital subchannel became a market outlet for The CW through the CW Plus small-market feed. That service had previously existed as a cable-only WB affiliate. In November 2008, CW programming moved to KTKA’s digital operation, and KSNT-DT2 became a standard-definition simulcast of KTMJ-CA, extending Fox programming to areas beyond the low-power station’s principal signal. The station’s local-news identity has changed several times. In 2011 and afterward, news produced for KSNT, KTMJ, and KTKA was associated with the Kansas First News brand. KSNT later adopted the KSNT News identity across its local operation, while KTMJ used Fox 43 News branding. In March 2022, KSNT introduced a new logo and brought back the 27 News name. The station currently combines NBC network programming with locally produced news, weather, sports, digital journalism, and services supporting its affiliated sister operations.

1. 202227 News identity revived

   KSNT launches a refreshed logo and restores the 27 News brand for its local newscasts.

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2. 2017Nexstar acquisition

   Nexstar completes its acquisition of Media General and becomes KSNT’s owner.

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3. 2014Media General acquisition

   Media General completes its acquisition of LIN Media, adding KSNT to its station portfolio.

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4. 2012LIN Media acquisition

   LIN Media acquires New Vision’s stations and assumes the related operating arrangements for KTKA-TV.

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5. 2008KTMJ operations move to KSNT facilities

   New Vision acquires KTMJ-CA and relocates its operations to KSNT’s studio facility.

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6. 2007New Vision ownership begins

   New Vision Television completes its purchase of Montecito’s station group.

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7. 2006Montecito ownership begins

   Montecito Broadcast Group completes its acquisition of KSNT and related stations.

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8. 2000Emmis Communications acquisition

   Lee sells KSNT and related television properties to Emmis Communications.

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9. 1995Lee Enterprises acquisition

   Lee Enterprises purchases the Kansas State Network group, including KSNT.

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10. 1988SJL Communications acquisition

    SJL Communications acquires KSNT and related Kansas State Network stations.

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11. 1982Station adopts KSNT call letters

    Following George Hatch’s acquisition, KTSB changes its call sign to KSNT as part of the Kansas State Network identity.

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12. 1967KTSB begins broadcasting

    The station signs on December 28 as KTSB, becoming the second commercial television station in the Topeka market and the first full-power UHF station in Kansas.

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A locally focused NBC television station serving Topeka and northeast Kansas, positioned around regional news, weather, sports, public-service information, and network entertainment.

• KSNT NBC programmingNetwork television1967

  KSNT carries the NBC schedule for the Topeka market, including network news, entertainment, sports, and daytime programming. The station makes local scheduling adjustments where appropriate for the Central Time Zone and its own news lineup.

• 27 NewsLocal television news2022

  27 News is KSNT’s current local-news identity, used for broadcasts serving Topeka and northeast Kansas. Coverage centers on regional breaking news, government, public safety, weather, education, sports, and community issues, with related output also appearing on KTKA-TV.

• KTMJ local newscastsLocal television news2009

  KSNT produces local news programming for Fox affiliate KTMJ-CD, including morning and evening broadcasts. The arrangement extends local reporting and weather coverage to the low-power Fox outlet and its surrounding viewing area.

• Digital and streaming newsDigital media

  The KSNT brand also encompasses web-based local reporting, video, weather information, and other digital distribution associated with its television news operation.

• 202227 News brand revival

  Topeka · Northeast Kansas

  KSNT introduced a refreshed logo and revived the 27 News identity across newscasts shown on KSNT and KTKA-TV.

  Outcome. The 27 News name became the station’s principal local-news branding.

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• 2011Shared operation of KTKA-TVStrategy

  KTKA-TV was sold to PBC Broadcasting, while New Vision already owned KSNT and KTMJ and had experience providing operational services to separately owned stations.

  What changed. KSNT assumed production of KTKA’s local newscasts and consolidated operations at the KSNT facility under shared-services and joint-sales arrangements.

  Aftermath. The arrangement created a coordinated three-station operation in the Topeka market and later continued through subsequent ownership changes.

  • American Cable Association — The association objected that the combined operation could increase leverage in retransmission-consent negotiations.
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• 2009Local news expansion for KTMJProduct launch

  After acquiring KTMJ-CA, New Vision sought to replace imported news programming with locally produced broadcasts.

  What changed. KSNT began producing a weekday morning newscast and a weeknight prime-time newscast for KTMJ.

  Aftermath. KTMJ gained locally branded news coverage supported by KSNT’s staff and facilities.

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• 2006Launch of CW Plus digital serviceStrategy

  Montecito had an affiliation agreement for KSNT-DT2 with The CW, while the market previously received the network through a cable-only WB/CW Plus service.

  What changed. KSNT-DT2 began carrying The CW’s small-market CW Plus feed and local advertising.

  Aftermath. The CW service later moved to KTKA’s digital operation in 2008, and KSNT-DT2 shifted to a KTMJ simulcast.

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• 202227 News brand returns

  KSNT introduced a new logo and revived the 27 News identity for newscasts carried on KSNT and KTKA.

  CampaignProduct launch
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• 2013Local newscasts move to high definition

  KSNT and KTKA began broadcasting local newscasts in high definition in May, following the market’s transition by other local stations.

  Product generation
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• 2011KSNT begins producing KTKA newscasts

  After KTKA-TV changed ownership, KSNT assumed production of the ABC station’s local newscasts under a shared-services arrangement.

  M&A
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• 2009KSNT adds local operations for KTMJ

  Following New Vision’s acquisition of KTMJ-CA, KSNT began producing morning and prime-time newscasts for the Fox affiliate.

  Product launch
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• 1982Call letters change to KSNT

  After acquisition by George Hatch’s Kansas State Network, the station adopted the KSNT call sign as part of a broader network identity.

  Other
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• 1967KSNT signs on as KTSB

  The station began broadcasting on December 28 as KTSB, an NBC affiliate and the second commercial television station in the Topeka market.

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1. KSNT
2. KSNT official website